Vietnam's economic growth in the first half of this year may quicken to an annual rate of 5.6 percent after rising 5.43 percent in the first quarter, a state-run newspaper reported on Wednesday.

That would result from a quickening in growth in the second quarter to 5.8 percent from a year ago, the Vietnam Economic Times newspaper said in an online report (vneconomy.vn), citing a Planning and Investment Ministry forecast.